breeding question

[Jmac9876]

Hello all,
I have a breeding questions. Does a tom's fertility rate slow down as the season goes on? I've got toms doing their job but have alot of eggs that aren't fertile when I set them. I'm setting everything laid unless it gets wet. Alot of them have no activity in them at all.
I only have 1 tom for each pen and they only have 5 hens. I'm still getting at least 2 eggs a day from each pen. Any thoughts?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Sounds like your tom is a dud. Some will be fertile first few weeks then drop off. If that is the case then you want to find a new line to get toms out of as this is a genetic trait and not a good one !!!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

How was your fertility early in the season? I see you are in Georgia and the heat takes a toll on fertility, not only on the birds themselves but if you aren't there to get the eggs soon after they are layed the 95+ degree days will lower your hatch rate.

There are quite a few factors in fertility. The age of the birds is a major factor after 3 or 4 years it's drops off quite a bit, plus the laying season is shorter, the length of time they have been laying also figures in.

Steve in NC

 

[Jmac9876]

I have hatched quite a few poults this season. One tom is only a year old the other I don't know in fact he is leaving shortly and I'm replacing him w/ one of his poults born this year. I didn't know about the 95 degree- I will try and pick up eggs more while I am home.

Steve- I'm glad you are staying on the forum- you are one of the reasons why I keep coming back for info on the turkeys- I hope to be 1/2 as knowledgeable as you are one day.

thanks

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
That's what I was wondering about the early season lay. Once it gets to warm here we don't sit any more eggs - our chicken egg customers enjoy the turkey eggs mixed in or we just boil them back for the birds.

Thanks for your support it always good to "talk turkey"

Steve

 

[ivan3]

How long before the onset of the symptoms you described in this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=214506

Did you notice this, or was it about the same time?

 

[Jmac9876]

I've hatched quite a few since that started so I don't think that is the problem.
thanks